Synonymy Family name alternatives Because of changing synonymies and varying interpretations, as well as the synonym Chloraemidae (in use into the 1900s), there are several other names for the family in use in the older literature. For example (not necessarily first use) Johnston (1865:222) used Siphonostomaceae, and Grube (1859:108) used Pherusea. Haase (1915:172-) and Støp-Bowitz (1948) are among those who discuss some of this taxonomic history.
The chronological first usage is as follows (S. Salzar-Vallejo unpublished):
(1) Siphonostomae Otto, 1821, with Siphonostoma Otto, 1821, as type genus.
(2) Siphostomacea Blanchard in Gay, 1849 (Siphostomidae Blanchard in Gay, 1849), with Siphostoma as type genus.
(3) Chloraemea de Quatrefages, 1849 (Chloraemidae de Quatrefages, 1849), with Chloraema Dujardin, 1839, as type genus.
(4) Pherusea Grube, 1850 (Pherusidae Grube, 1850), with Pherusa Oken, 1807, as type genus.
(5) Flabelligeridae de Saint-Joseph, 1894, with Flabelligera Sars, 1829, as type genus.
Although the reasons for the multiple names are complex, in short the most modern name, Flabelligeridae, continues to be used because it is prevailing usage. [details]